The project will support the standardization of methods to collate prices for fruits and other trading variables, with the aim of improving market intelligence in Central America.
A press release by American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture reads:
Central America, Panama, Belize and the Dominican Republic will share, on a regional platform, information emanating from the markets regarding its tropical fruits, in order to increase the competitiveness of the productive sector and identify export opportunities for agribusiness.
The Agricultural Sector has experienced the loss of hundreds of acres of various crops, factories and company closures, and the reduction of thousands of jobs in Costa Rica.
The National Chamber of Agriculture and Agro (CNAA), Upanacional and the Independent Smallholders' Union of Perez Zeledon (UPIAV) expressed on May 12, Farmer's Day in Costa Rica, there is not much to celebrate.
The Coffee Institute confirmed a $ 7.8 million investment in the importation of agrochemicals for the 2011/2012 harvest.
Asterio Reyes, president of the Honduran Coffee Institute (IHCAFE), said that in anticipation of the direct impact the price of oil will have on the cost of chemicals, they will invest in the purchase of 100 million quintales of urea and 150 thousand quintales of improved formula to safeguard the 2011 -2012 harvest.
Abundant Biofuels is analyzing cultivation of 10.000 hectares of pinion to produce biodiesel.
Company president, James Love, met with officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and producers from the south of the country.
El Heraldo reported statements from James Love, "the project would benefit about of 4.000 people in the south divided into three areas: the first would be plenty of high quality housing."
The Union of Agricultural Producers of Nicaragua projected the sector to grow 12% by 2011.
For the 2011-2012 crop season farmers project that cultivated areas of basic grains could reach 500 thousand hectares.
Manuel Alvarez, president of the UPANIC, told Laprensa.com.ni "... for example, the bean harvest in Apante will reach the two million bushels expected."
Agricultural authorities, together with a consulting firm, developed a pilot program aimed at diversifying agricultural production.
The project is aimed at promoting farming of potatoes, onions and carrots, in order to meet domestic demand and dispense imports of such products.
The head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Jacobo Regalado, told La Tribuna, "Once these projects are consolidated, we will cover the rest of the products so that we reduce to zero those imports and to have initially export capabilities for products such as onions."
The loan from the International Fund for Agricultural Development will finance the program for the development of the southern region.
The Sustainable Rural Development Program for the Southern Region (EMPRENDESUR) aims to increase employment opportunities and food security for small producers.
Proceso.hn reproduces words of President Porfirio Lobo at the signing of the loan agreement, "We are bringing in large investments to Honduras, there is much talk at the lack of our own programs, but sometimes what we do not see is that if we promote programs like this, the sum of many small business owners make a big investment and profit.”
The Swiss cooperation will be for the Rural Competitiveness Project, COMRURAL.
The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG), and will increase the competitiveness of small and medium producers through partnerships.
"The owner of the SAG, said the Swiss cooperation has been good enough to generate a pre-investment fund that will facilitate and implement a series of activities which will strengthen this project over approximately 6 years and will invest about one billion Lempiras in that sector." reports Latribuna.com.
El Salvador is the Central American country with the lowest level of public investment in agriculture.
A study by the World Bank revealed that in the past two years, the Salvadoran State has invested less than 1% of the country’s GDP in improving this important industry.
“The World Bank and representatives of the private sector stated the necessity of investing more in agriculture, as it is a strategic sector which gathers the poorest inhabitants: over 50% of the country’s poor live in rural areas”, reported Laprensagrafica.com.
Brazil could supply the Salvadoran agriculture industry with technical assistance and know-how.
Agriculture and trade officials from Brazil are in the country, discussing the basis of a potential agreement.
“The parties will share past experiences of using micro financing to boost agricultural development, technical assistance, successful policies implemented in Brazil and opportunities for Agro industries”, reported Laprensagrafica.com.
The sector could grow 6% in 2010, helped by better climate and economic recovery in its target markets.
Gerardo Escudero, from international agricultural cooperation institute IICA, argues that a key factor for the sector's growth in 2010 is economic recovery at those economies which import agricultural products from Nicaragua.
"Escudero also remarked that the recovery will be influenced by a return to normal weather conditions, as climate phenomena 'El Niño' caused severe disruptions in 2009, specially for the second harvest ('postrera')", reports Elnuevodiario.com.ni.
The 15th State of the Nation Report warns on rising crime, larger income disparity and misuse of natural resources.
From the report's abstract, we highlighted the following titles:
¿What is the magnitude of the crisis, and how does it affect the country?
Less access to dignifying income
Social investment levels are maintained despite GDP drop
Important deterioration in stability
With a contribution of $5 million, the US Agency for International Development announced the extension of the program.
The U.S. ambassador, Hugo Llorens, informed the extension of the Rural Economic Diversification Program (USAID / RED) for 21 additional months.
La Tribuna published on its website, "USAID/RED works with micro, small and medium sized rural enterprises to enhance competitiveness, expand exports and local sales and promote increased production and investment in products with higher value."
The funds will be used to finance a project for the transformation of agricultural subsistence activities.
The loan by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (FIDA) will directly benefit 33 thousand people and promote the modernization of agricultural production.
Alfredo Sánchez wrote in Olganza.com: "This project will support the effective management of land in a series of micro-basins and it will encourage the participation of various groups in the rehabilitation of environmentally degraded areas.